Rapeseed Meal Studies

ASTWOOD et al. (1949a, b) and Carroll (1949) isolated goitrin from rapeseed and identified it as L-5-vinyl-2-thiooxazolidone which more recently has been named (–)-5-vinyl-2-oxazolidinethione. Synthesis of (±)-5-vinyl-2-oxazolidinethione has been accomplished by Ettlinger (1950). The work to be reported concerns the effects of synthetic goitrin on the growth rate of chicks and on the structure and function of the thyroid glands of chicks. Approximately 50 grams of (±) -5-vinyl-2-oxazolidinethione (hereafter referred to as oxazolidinethione) was synthesized by following essentially the procedure outlined by Ettlinger (1950). Unfortunately supplies of one of the starting materials (3,4-epoxy-l, butene) became unavailable shortly after the project was commenced, otherwise a larger quantity of oxazolidinethione would have been prepared. In order to permit study of the effects of feeding oxazolidinethione for varying periods of time on the growth of chicks, the uptake and release of radio-iodine by the thyroid glands of chicks and on thyroid …